This guy is like a lot of the economist of the day who would ask you not to rock a sinking boat so you can fix the hole in the bottom....

Remember…These were the same economists that said, “all national economic boats will rise together”

What is worse is that he is teaching other economist that only a free trade global economic order can work…. A lot of people have become brainwashed to believe that free trade is a god given right, and a law to be followed.

Well free trade is not at all a god given right, and this thinking must stop… Its each nation’s right to rethink its position on trade and do what is correct for its citizens welfare and rewrite any trade agreements with individual nations as needed.

Currently global trade has been a very poor way to generate wealth, but has become a very efficient system to transfer it!... Global trade has increased by 8 times since 1980, but global GDP has only about doubled, with many western nations on flat-line or worse in terms of wealth and prosperity… go figure!

I keep reading assertions by commentators that concerns about Chinese policy on IP rights are valid. But what exactly is the issue here? Is it IP theft? If so, I agree that is wrong. But if Chinese investment approval is conditional on technology transfer, what is wrong with that?

It is not the job of governments to look after the interest of foreign firms. The job of government is to foster the wellbeing of consumers and workers. It seems to me that the West identifies too readily with capitalists interests, and neglect the wellbeing of workers and consumers in the West.

Let me acknowledge that investment rules ought not to be a used to create barriers to trade. But all countries provide all kinds of incentives to attract foreign investment, and sometimes, the incentives are conditional on technology transfer. And that seems entirely legitimate!

It may be I am wrong, and there can be circumstances when foreign investment conditional on technology transfer is inappropriate. I am happy to be corrected on that. But at least make the case for it! Don't just assert it is "unfair" or "illegitimate", without giving reasons!

I would add that there is a great deal of unfairness by the US. Exempting allies from the steel tariffs seems to contradict WTO rules. Refusing to treat China as a market economy is also unfair. Finally, cajoling China into making concessions on climate change mitigation, then withdrawing from the Paris agreement is ... "bait & switch"?

The US is vastly more wealthy than China, and its problems today have its roots in the failure of successive US governments to ensure that the peace dividend (from the end of the Cold War) and the fruits of global trade are not more equitably shared with US workers and the disadvantaged. These are problems which the US clearly has capacity to address, but is unwilling to do so. Why should China (which has many people poorer than the US) sacrifice its own interests if the gains end up with the wealthy in the US. If the US were serious about tacking inequality, perhaps China can help out the US.

I believe this translates into surrender to China. The WTO is possibly more ineffectual then the Flat Earth Society: One. By the time WTO rules Trump could be dead of old age. Two. Generally speaking by the time the WTO rules the damage is irreversible particularly in the case of Intellectual property. Three. Even when the cases are finally ruled on China makes cosmetic changes and goes back to business as usual. Four. Has we witnessed when China lost its case on the South China Sea in the Hague, China's response was F you and they continued about their way totally ignoring the ruling.

Don't talk International rules they are a joke and mean absolutely nothing. Be they the so called Laws of War, The UN Charter, or the World trade Organization. The rules are only enforced when a nation powerful enough pushes the rest of the time they are irrelevant nonsense.

I'm no fan of Trumps I didn't vote for him. I don't know if Tariffs are the answer, But the WTO that's just an excuse for business as usual. As business as usual is whichever administration in power giving China whatever it wants and ignoring it's transgressions. Such has Tibet, Uighurs, Han Colonization of other peoples territory to displace indigenous populations, forced extortion of intellectual property, State subsidized industries competing in "Free Trade". Not having to make a profit or spend on R&D surely makes for and even field in Trade. I doubt Trump's solution is the right one but the previous several administrations where at best pro China and Anti US worker. At worst .....well that is for people to judge for themselves. But if your counting on the WTO or International agreements to accomplish anything you would do better to bet on 3 legged horse in the Kentucky Derby. It is a more likely winner.

You've put me off my doppio espresso, but you're right overall. I'd suggest Barry pay a visit to the wonderful Ranch99 pan-Asian market under Albany Hill near Berkeley and study the economics of the live fish tank - no discussion in either Mandarin or English of comparative advantage, Pareto optimality, etc.

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